Campy on-ice competition ‘Battle of the Blades’ to return to CBC-TV

TORONTO – CBC-TV is resurrecting its campy competition series “Battle of the Blades.”

The public broadcaster says eight rugged hockey players and eight figure skating stars will shimmy their way through ice dancing contests as part of the upcoming 2013-2014 broadcast lineup. The popular elimination-style series had been previously benched amid federal budget cuts.

CBC executives outlined their fall and winter plans this morning, when they also touted a fall new cop drama called “Crossing Lines” about a police unit that specializes in cross-border crimes, and a new winter reality show called “Four Rooms” billed as “Antiques Roadshow” meets “Dragons’ Den.”

The centrepiece of the winter schedule will be coverage of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, running Feb. 7 to 23.

The rest of the CBC lineup includes two book adaptations — a winter miniseries based on Terry Fallis’ political satire “Best Laid Plans,” and a fall TV movie based on Quebec crime writer Louise Penny’s debut novel “Still Life.”

Returning series include “Arctic Air,” “Murdoch Mysteries,” “Republic of Doyle,” “Mr. D,” “Dragons’ Den” and “Heartland.” Rookie drama “Cracked” also returns, but with a new co-star to join leading man David Sutcliffe.

CTV, Global and City are expected to reveal their lineups in early June.